"“If we agree that preparing students for active participation in a democracy means that they be encouraged to ask questions, seek knowledge from those with whom they disagree, and take part in open and honest debate, the importance of having diversity among the participants in the classroom, research lab, or clinical practice settings is self-evident. If we agree that the ability to learn from and use diverse perspectives is instrumental to constructive problem solving, then we must create a classroom environment that encourages interaction among individuals of diverse backgrounds.”
(IUPUI State of Diversity, January 19, 2004))"

For the fifth year now, IUPUI has made publicly available in print and on the web a report on our progress toward the diversity goals we have established. Degrees conferred, graduation rates, faculty inclusion of diverse perspectives in teaching, diversity in research, and more are among the measurements we track.

In my installation speech in December, “The Power of Two,” I challenged the campus to double our achievements in several areas, including doubling achievements in diversity. We have more challenges to face than we have yet been able to surmount, not the least of which is the lack of diversity elsewhere in the educational system. I have asked the Diversity Cabinet to develop a plan and work with our faculty, staff, students, and community colleagues on redoubling our efforts to promote diversity. To accomplish our goals, we need each person on our campus to keep diversity firmly in the framework of all that we do. During this year’s Martin Luther King Day celebration, I both reaffirmed our commitment and renewed the challenge. Next year, I fully expect progress to have been made.

IUPUI Grad in Cover Photo of TIME's Person of the Year

TIME Magazine's "Person of the Year" issue was published in late December. For 2003, the cover honored the “American Soldier” rather than an individual as the “Person of the Year.” The female in the center of the three soldiers depicted in the cover picture is Billie Grimes, who graduated from IUPUI in May 2002 with a degree in sports medicine and athletic training.

Billie Grimes, age 26, was born in Lebanon, Indiana. She was an army reservist while she completed her athletic training internship at Brownsburg High School during the football season of 2001. She went into active duty in July 2002. As her platoon’s medic, she treated two TIME journalists, along with other injured members of her unit on December 10 when a grenade landed in their humvee while it was stuck in Baghdad traffic. Both reporters are now recovering in the United States.

As an alumna of IUPUI, Specialist Grimes reminded us all of the many very important ways in which our graduates serve our nation and the world.

21st Century Fund Awards Announced
Governor Kernan just announced the fifth round recipients of 21st Century Research and Technology Fund awards. The fund was created by the Indiana General Assembly in 1999 to help Indiana develop ventures focused on commercializing advanced technologies. To be eligible, proposals must include both a Hoosier company and an in-state university. With the latest round, more than $110 million in grants have been made to 85 projects since the awards began.

IUPUI is a partner in grants to expand the Indiana Propulsion & Power Center of Excellence, to move discoveries in the emerging field of regenerative biology into the drug discovery pipeline, to advance technologies for Rolls–Royce’s next-generation low-emission engine combustion systems, to create new techniques for security through advanced digital video compression, to establish the Center for Computational Homeland Security, to develop gene therapies for joint damage, to develop the Indiana Protein Center (a life sciences partnership sponsored by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership), and to design a module to improve overall power generation performance at iPower Technologies, Inc., in Anderson.

IUPUI Researchers Study Urban Trails

An interdisciplinary research team at IUPUI has received a $150,000 grant to explore the relationship between urban trails and the level of physical activity among Indianapolis residents. The team is headed by Professor Greg Lindsey, director of the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment at IUPUI. Little is known about the factors that influence residents to use urban trails and whether they generate enough physical activity to make a meaningful difference in the health of residents. Policymakers and administrators will be able to use the study results to make informed decisions about land use and related environmental factors. Funding for the study is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, through its $12.5-million national Active Living Research initiative.

IUPUI’s Jaguars – A Giant Killer on the Prowl?

Malcolm Moran, USA TODAY (1/27/2004), under the headline “These NCAA programs might be giant-killers” wrote recently, “Remember IUPUI coach Ron Hunter's wild celebration of the school's first Mid-Continent Conference title and NCAA tournament bid last year? Well, the Jaguars are in contention again. . .” Two recent wins against Oral Robert University—one in triple overtime and one in double overtime—has put us in the conference lead. Go Jags!!